Improved canal lock



G E 0 R G 'E H E A T H, i or' TTL Amis,V NEW 4Yo RK i.

Letterman.: No. .66,1515 daad Janere, 1861. l

' 1MP-ROVER ca-NAL LOCK.

i itlg rlgphule'refetre' it furthest eetteri 3ntent'tuh'11ratingpari-aimante. f

fron-LL `WHoM 1T MAY CONCERN:-`

Be it'knowdthat I, GEORGE HEATH', of Littlel Falls, the county of Herkimer, and Stal-teef VNew York,4

have` invented'a new and useful'improvemeut inV Canal VVllorclrs.` .Y y.

,The-na'tu're of my'invention'conssts iu passing the water lin "thc lock-chamber from the upper level tlnoughl valves or openings in front of the gates,` insteadof .passing itA through-valves or 'openings in the gate itself,

as is usual, or 'tbrough chambersv or: passages in `the sides'ot tire locks, as is sometimes done; andIdo hereby declare. th'attlle following is a. full, clear, and exa'crt description of. saidinvention, if'erenne being had tothe accompanying drawing'givinga perspective view of' the improvrcmentr,one oitlie walls ofthe lock being A is tl'xejlock-w 'llt-IB is the breast-wall; C is the gate-chamber; D is the gate; E is thegate-platiorrn;. F F are the valves; Gais the chamber below the platformE and connectingfwitlx the lock-chamber. The lock may be ofrauy ordinary form, and of .any proper new form, and tliesize ormatcrial isino'timportant, and tlie mproveznentmay bora'diiy added to any lock now in use. p I n Vthe ordinary lock, the pau-runder the platform of tligpper gate and up tothe breast-wall is filled in4 )vith masonry,'timbeigror-.other material. In inyimproved lock this part'isleft openv from the breastlwall to thelockchamber'. p Over this'plac-eneiztends the gate-platform au'itablyv supported' 'and properlylp'lanked In this platfm at suitablel points, andin suitable numbers, are placed the valves F F for filling the lcc'kfcll'amber* from above. 'lhe platform is at Vsuch distancabelow the breast-Wall B .that the valves when raised will not interfere Withftlle passing boats, or with the operating of the lock-gate. 7 I v through thesevalves into the lock below 'causes' great commotion' in tire water in the lock and drives' aloutt'll'e boat .in the lock in a Inannerrto do serious injuryto tlle lock, as well as the boat', if'not guarded against. i Tow" prevent suchinjury, it is ne'cessary'tofasten the boat by a stout linebefore letting in thewater, which should be tightened as the boatV rises with the rising water. "By my improveine'nt the water frein the upper levelpasses through the valves F Fsvertically intoV thezcbamber G uudersaid valves,a.nd atsome'distanee front of the In the ordinary lock, asl stated, Vthe lo'ck isi-usuallj filled through valves inl the gates. Tire fail of tliewater lock-chamber and'o'f the boat, and commingling Vwitlltlre waters-lof "the lock, tlleswaters in the leek4 rise gently? and without ebullition or agitation sufficient to disturb ythel boat" 'resting' therein, 1 .Wl1ere the Water' is let in I throughA chambers atthe side rof theA lock, instead'of thro'uglrvalvesl in `the vgates, v'as issometimes done,l such `eluubellsl weaken the l't'ickiwalls and the rush of-waters through-them operatesinjuriously on themasonry and 4 it is .with diiiiculty they'aife kept water-tigl1t, Iand it isalso'withdiiiculty tln'ittrepairs are made; In 4my improve. Y ment tlxev'alves or'the'whle 'platform'm'ay readily be taken up and' repaired.` With this improvement tbe tumble-'gate may be used, but it does not-:prevent theuse' of tlie ordinary s-ivilngng gate, )i'hen it is desired,"

l In my improvement as ordinarily constructed witlrtlje tumb1e-gate,tlie valves are'operated by `levers allaV I on one side'of' the 1ock,`butany Aother mode that'will eiectrthe purpose will be'i'sucient.'

Having thus described my invention, whatjI clainras netheeinland 4desireito secure byIiettersPatent, ,l

The mode, substantially imV herein described, ofiillingeanal locks.

Witnesses:

DANL. WATERMAN, Jr.,

JOHN G, Cnocnm; 

